Slip case for bassinets and the like



Feb. 20, 1951 BENET 2,542,618

SLIP CASE FOR BASSINETS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 3, 1948 INVENTOR MARJ RIE FLAC sum" A ORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 SW CASE F08. BAQS'ES 1. *3

Marjorie Flack Benet, New York, N. Y.

Application @ccember 53, less, derial No. cases (Eia (632i. diiill The invention relates to bassinets and the like; more particularly to flexible fabric cases for attachment to the frames of basslnets and other basket-like containers.

It is a leading object of my invention to pro vide a replaceable sanitary slip case of improved construction which can be laundered fiat and which will assume basket-litre form ior use on railroad trains, in hotels and hospitals, on sir-earn in motor cars or in planes.

A further obj -s provide a slip case of the character de cribed which can be made from single piece or" fiat rectangular material without waste.

My invention has been developed with special reference to bassinets or cribs which are adapted. for use in standard Pullman cars. The railroads today have made no general provision for the accommodation oib abies in sleeping cars, and it has been a particular object of my invention to provide such accommodation in the form of a bassinet which can be securely mounted in a Pullman berth and which is specifically contrived to permit ready replacement of a sanitary fabric case in which the baby may be carried both when the berth is made up for sleeping and when it has been made up for daytime occupancy.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my preferred form of sleeping case, as designed for use in Pullman cars, planes or other vehicles.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the rectangular piece of fabric from which the slip case of Fig. l is constructed.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate two of the ways in which the slip case of Fig. 1 may be used, Fig. 3 showing the case as applied to a supporting irame and erected for use on a Pullman seat made up for daytime occupancy, and Fig. 4 showing the case mounted on the same frame and erected for use on a Pullman berth when made up for sleeping.

In accordance with my invention a slip case is made from a double sheet of flexible fabric material such as heavy cotton cloth, the constructime being such that when the case is flattened out it is of generally rectangular form (Fig. l) with closed sides and open ends, the two layers of the double sheet being separable from one another throughout substantially their entire length and breadth, whereby the case can assume the form of an open-ended tube or envelope which can be drawn over a supporting frame. ll prefer without waste.

With reference to 2, the blanl: from which the slip case is formed may be considered consisting oi two sections which will be the outer and inner sections of a double walled bassinet when completed and erected for use, namely an inner section b and an outer section 5 joined at a fold line i. The material is cut or slit at d and ii in substantial alignment with fold line 7:, these cuts extending inwardly from the outer edges oi the blank to points it and M. Pairs of transverse cuts l2 and it extend from the sides of outer section it inwardly to meet fold lines it and it at substantially right angles thereto. The corner portions i6 and ill defined by the cut and fold lines described are folded about their respective fold lines it and i5 and secured to form end panel pockets 8%, as. The width of the corner or nap portions it, it preferably is somewhat greater than one-half the distance between fold lines it, so that there will be enough material to form pleats at the sides of the pockets. The small triangular portions such as shown at 20 may be folded back against the body of outer section it along fold lines it and secured thereto to avoid raw edges and to provide-clearance for the vertical members of a. supporting frame to be described. The folding over of the corner portions I6 and H to form the pockets i8, is likewise provides corner notches in the outer section 6 of the case to permit convenient mounting on a supporting frame.

The outer edges 22, 23 of the blank are brought together and stitched or otherwise secured to form an open ended envelope with projecting flaps 2d, 25 at each end. Suitable bindings may be applied as at 26, 21 etc. and reinforcing tapes applied, as may be desired. Securing elements, such as eyelets 2B, are provided along edges of one or both of the pairs of flaps 24, 25 for attaching the ends of the flaps in position on a supporting frame. Other kinds of securing elements can be used if desired, such as ties, snap fasteners, zippers, buckles and so on.

As representative of one form of supporting frame to which my slip case can be applied, 1 have illustrated in Fig. 4 a frame consisting of a rectangular hoop 29 which defines the upper edge of a bassinet, with upright supports 30 pivotally attached thereto at the corners of rectam guiar hoop 29. These vertical supports can conveniently be formed from a single piece of metal rod or strip bent into the form of a U and having lateral extensions ll adapted to extend underneath a mattress such as indicated by the dotdash lines at M in Fig. 4. Suitable corner braces 32 may be provided to hold the frame in erected position, these braces being pivotally secured to the uprights as at 33 and having projections at their end arranged to slip into an opening in member (or into any one of a series of openings according to whether the frameis to be set up in the manner indicated in Fig. 4 or in that indicated in Fig. 3) so that the angle of the supporting members can be adjusted for either a horizontal or inclined position as may be desired. When the corner braces are detached, the frame can be folded flat, to be stored in an out-of-thewayplace or for convenience in carrying.

Whentheslipcaseistobedrawnonoroifthe supporting frame, the frame members It can be extended outwardly in line with member 2!, permittlng the case to be slipped over the frame like a sleeve. Then members so can be brought either into the position shown in Fig. 3 or that shown in Big. 4, and the flaps 24, secured to the frame or secured together over the top of the frame. It will be observed that when erected for use, the slip case has a bottom panel, side and end panels. The two layer of the double sheet (inner and outer sections 5 and e) are attached to one another only along their edges, being freely separable along the corners "which mark the Junetures between the bottom and side panels. This construction permits the case to be drawn on and oil the supporting frame, and also provides a very strong construction because the inner and outer aections i and 6 of the slip case adiust themselves around the upper edges of the frame in such a way as to distribute the load fairly uniformly between the two sections.

The utility pockets at the ends of the bassinet are useful as holders for the baby's shoes or other articles, such as diapers, etc.

I prefer to make the ends of the frame of greater width than the bottom of the case, so that there will be some space between the case and frame members 30. This helps to keep the case from bumping against the rigid ends. If desired,

' the frame can be constructed with resilient mem-.' bers or springs to act a shock absorbers, and" allow for motion in travelling.

Anynumberofcasescanbemadeforuseon a single frame. They can be as easily laundered, sterilized and packaged as a sheet. For home use, the frame and individual cases might be rented from a service such as the diaper services now generally available.

In view of the ease with which the case can be removed and replaced with a clean one, it becomes a simple matter for travellers or Pullman porters to make frequent changes, so that the child will have the protection of a clean sterile bed. If desired, a mattress may be used, although this is not essential.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within the purview of the claims.

I claim;

l.' A slip case for a bassinet and the like comcan be drawn on and off the rectangular hoop,

and fastening elements adiacent the tops of said end panels for securing the end panels to the rectangular hoop.

2. A slip case as defined by claim 1 in which the double sheet is formed from a single piece of fabric of rectangular form folded over and secured along the meeting edges to form an openended envelope, one of the layers of the double sheet being slit near its corner and folded over to form end panel pockets and notches to receive upright supports of a bassinet frame. I

3. A slip case formed from a single piece of flexible fabric material having an inner section and an outer section adapted to be folded into juxtaposition and formed into a basket-like shape with a bottom panel, side and end panels, said outer section having transverse cuts extending from its sides inwardly to meet fold lines at substantially right angles thereto whereby corner portions of the outer section are folded about said fold lines and secured to form end panel pocxets and notches to receive upright supports of a bassinet frame.

4. A slip case as defined by claim 1 in which the envelope has a pair or pro ect ng flaps at each end to form the end panels of the bassinet.

5. A sl1p case for a bassinet and the line comprising a double sheet of flexible fabric material which when flattened out is or generally rectangular form with closed sides and open ends, one layer of which has corner notches to receive upright supports of a bassinet frame when the side and end portions of said notched section are folded upwardly, the two layers of the double sheet being separable from one another throughout substantially their entire length and breadth whereby the case can assume the form of an openended tube or envelope which can be drawn over a supporting frame.

MARJORIE FLACK BENET.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

